Magazine Jul to Aug 2017

THE AMERICAN CLUB S INGAPORE ISSUE 149 • JUL / AUG 2017 www.amclub.org.sg

PRINTER: NAILI PRINT MEDIA MCI (P) 099/08/2016 0210/1948RAC

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

CLUB'S MANAGEMENT

General Manager Martin Rudden generalmanager@amclub.org.sg

President Kristen Graff president@amclub.org.sg

Co-Assistant General Manager Patricia Au

Vice President Kenneth Fagan vicepresident@amclub.org.sg

Co-Assistant General Manager Vijaykumar Raj (Vijay)

Senior Director of People Development Tan Lee Lee

Secretary Diane Knox secretary@amclub.org.sg

Senior Director of Facilities & Security Tang Teck Wah

Treasurer Rahul Arora treasurer@amclub.org.sg

Senior Director of Club Services Su-Ann Khor

Director of Food & Beverage Malik Riley

GENERAL COMMITTEE Aaron Kim Ashok K. Lalwani Beng Bak Low

Director of Fitness & Leisure Randy Simon

Director of Finance Angie Ng

Assistant Director of IT VP Chai

Bill Bowman Dana Hvide Ngiam Siew Wei Peter Proft Phua Swee Leng Richard Hartung Scott Morris

Executive Sous Chef Paul Ng

Duty Managers Anthony, Palani & Ronald

MAGAZINE

Marketing & Communications Manager / Data Protection Officer Jacklyn Ong jacklyno@amclub.org.sg Marketing & Communications Executive Constance Yeo constancey@amclub.org.sg Senior Graphic Designer / Magazine Designer Geraldine Soh geraldines@amclub.org.sg

American Association Representative Stephanie Nash

American Embassy Representative Lt Col Howard Eyth

American Women’s Association Representative Cyndy O’Connor

Senior Graphic Designer Sarah Lau

Canadian Association Representative Sandra Johnson

Advertising Tel: (65) 6739-4388 / Fax: (65) 6737-2963

01 FROM THE PRESIDENT 02 FROM THE GENERAL MANAGER CONTENTS ISSUE 149 • JUL / AUG 2017

HIGHLIGHTS

03 NEWS Club Closure - Annual Staff Dinner & Dance Complimentary Access to International Digital Newspapers An Egg-cellent Guess May Day Plaque of Commendation Distinguished Visiting Chef Mother's Day at The Club An Evening with Frank Lavin 'Pitch Perfect' Slab Party Niche Group Lucky Draw Send Us Your Stories The American Club Call Center Staff News Rant & Rave Redevelopment Project Update 15 LEVEL 3 17 LIBRARY Summer Reading Race Book Club 19 MEMBERSHIP The American Club's ExtraOrdinary Membership Niche Group Lucky Draw 23 ART SCENE Emotion in Motion 25 TRAVEL New Zealand - A Luxury Playground Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai, Hoi An, Vietnam

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27 MEMBER FEATURE Turning the Tide in The Land of the Thunder Dragon 29 EVENTS Canada Day Buffet Dining 4 th of July National Day at The Club Mid-Autumn Festival End of Summer Welcome Back Weekend Specials Wine Rant The Entrepreneurs Series 37 COMMITTEE FEATURE Fine Arts Committee 39 SPA July & August Promotions Aveda Pramãsana™ Botanical Scalp Care Le Château du Bois 43 YOUTH Summer Camp Summer Camp Farewell Party Youth Open House Congratulations to Our Junior Members Birthday Party 47 TENNIS 49 GYM Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS) 51 FITNESS & LEISURE Colonial Cup Squash Adult Recreation 53 AQUATICS 55 ESSENTIALS

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Strategic Partners:

• The Youth committee has tried all sorts of new things to engage our younger members including Sunday Fundays, where you can drop your kids off for a day of poolside fun. My kids have enjoyed the Friday night laser tag sessions and just took part in the karaoke night party as well. • If you’re interested in learning more about wine, you can have an informal lesson and tasting session with our Beverage Director and Master Sommelier, Alvin Goh, who is conducting casual wine trainings every last Friday of the month at The 2 nd Floor. • Down at the gym you can walk away with prizes if you participate in their two-week fitness challenge. The wheel of prizes is a fun spin; at least less painful than the spin class. I continue to be so impressed with the strong group of volunteers we have and I appreciate so much that they choose to share their time and talents tomake this a fantastic Club. If you are interested in volunteering with The Club please contact the Leadership Development Committee via sandrac@amclub.org.sg. They will let you know which committees need Members and guide you through our volunteer orientation process. I also need to give a shout-out to a few of our sporting teams that have performed at the top of their games, literally. Teeing up for the Colonial Cup held at the Singapore Island Country Club, The American Club Golf Team trounced the Tanglin Club and the British Club with a perfect score – unbelievable! Congratulations are in order. The Club’s Squash team has also been on an incredible winning streak this year, prevailing in all six matches sincemid- March. They took home the Claymore Cup over the Tanglin Club, beat both the Hollandse Club and the Cricket Club and triumphed over the Hong Kong Football Club in Hong Kong! Way to go team. Adding to the list of new initiatives around The Club, our Squash team has also initiated a Junior Program to train our young players. This takes place every Tuesday at 4:00 p.m. and Saturday at 10:00 a.m. While facing redevelopment works isn’t The American Club home we’re used to, I’m especially proud of all of the new, creative activities happening in our community during this time. It is a true testament that Club membership can make the best of any situation. It makes me feel positive about all the wonderful experiences in store for all of us when the redevelopment is complete. Because if we’re this creative now; just imagine what the future will bring. Enjoy the summer!

PRESIDENT FROM THE

Dear Members,

Happy summer!

I don’t know about many of you, but I have definitely hit redevelopment fatigue. I am ready for our pool to be back and to visit with friends in the new lobby. Lately though, I feel a glimmer of hope when I look out the viewing portholes on the second floor mezzanine – there are actual walls coming up and lots of rebar where new walls will be, even the slab for floors. It is tangible, visible progress and no longer a hole in the ground. That is reason to celebrate, and Club management believes we as a club need to celebrate these milestones. It was great to see many of you at the Slab party on May 21. Thank you for toasting this achievement. As usual, our pastry team made a wonderfully creative cake out of chocolate blocks and cookie sand to mark the milestone of pouring the slab on our new building! For those following along we released a new time-lapse video in June. It is viewable at the Lobby as well as on our Facebook page. In 42 seconds you can see everything that has happened over the last 10 months of construction work. We will continue to update these videos every quarter with photos taken every day from atop the Claymore building. Thank you all for your patience and understanding as we build a better Club for Members. With the small challenges, redevelopment has done something wonderful for our Club community – it has spawned an incredible amount of creativity. Our Member-driven committees have all put their thinking caps on and come up with some of the coolest new ideas, and Club management and staff have been quick to act to try new things. To name just a few of these new initiatives happening at The Club since we started redevelopment: • The Fine Arts committee has showcased live painting sessions at the Lobby with artist Jasmin Orosa. From what I hear there will be more art-related activities to come from this group including Club-organized art tours.

Kristen Graff President

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GENERAL MANAGER FROM THE

crowd. This regular series, held on our new Level 3 space, is a great way to meet with other business-minded professionals and hear stories of an entrepreneur’s challenges and strategies to ultimate success. You’ll also be able to see the multi-functionality of Level 3, which was part of the concept when it was created. As well on Level 3, we have introduced our new Library book club, which has already been very well received. There has been a Member call-out for this for a while, and now that the Library is larger and has more open space, we have finally been able to launch it. We have launched children’s storytime sessions twice aweek as well, on Saturdaymornings and Tuesday afternoons, so stop by the Library or check out our website for more information on all of these offerings. For kids, we just hosted our first-ever Funtastic Fridays – a series of three karaoke nights for kids in June. This new initiative aims to inject some fun and entertainment for children at the end of the week, when everyone needs a little break. Be sure to look out for more of these in the coming months. In an effort to provide better service to all our Members, we opened a dedicated call center last year to remove from the Front Desk team the task of answering the majority of phone calls to The Club. Six of our team members received call center as well as spa appointment booking training. This has allowed both our Concierge and sên teams to focus on the Members in front of them, while the call center team can concentrate on those calling in. Our call center typically attends to an average of 150 calls a day. You can read more about this on page 6. On a final note, and to keep you up to date with the redevelopment, I’m pleased to share that The Club has appointed a branding consultant, DIA, to help us with branding our new spaces as they come on line. Their first initiative will be to brand and name the Level 3 facilities, following which, work will fan out to other outlets in the new building. You may see the DIA team around The Club in the coming months, and we appreciate your cooperation if they approach you with questions or seek your opinion. More exciting initiatives are underway and you can expect to hear more about these in the coming months. Again, I wish you a wonderful summer vacation and a well-deserved rest, and look forward to seeing you at The Club soon.

Dear Members,

Everyone deserves a break, and I hope you are all enjoying a few weeks off this summer to spend time with family and friends either here, in the region, or back home. Although parts of the clubhouse remain closed for the redevelopment, I want you to know that we are working hard to create new and different experiences for you with the resources we do have. We realize that we need to keep our offerings fresh, and we continue to focus efforts on improving your Member experience; so I’d like to share a few of our recent initiatives with you. For those of you who are thinking about swimming lessons, Adult swim, or our Masters’ program this summer, did you know that we have replaced our free shuttle bus with complimentary Uber service between The Club and the Bukit Merah swimming complex? This arrangement allows Members flexibility in their schedules, negates the hassle of parking, and eliminates the additional expense of a taxi. Our dedicated swim instructors and Aquatics team are all located at Bukit Merah, so you know you’ll be receiving exceptional instruction. Please approach our Concierge team for full details and Uber bookings. As we aim to make the clubhouse more usable for Members during the redevelopment, we have revised our dress code at The 2nd Floor to allow Bermuda shorts during Saturday lunches. This more casual attire makes it easier for everyone to enjoy lunch as they juggle busy weekend schedules. For those who haven’t been to The 2nd Floor recently, may I suggest you join us for our weekly themed nights. Our Tapas Tuesday nights offer live music and great tapas combo sets, and Thursdays are Ladies’ Nights where our wonderful women enjoy $10 wines and spirits from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. In addition, every weekend you can surprise your loved one with a romantic dinner with our wonderful wine pairing menus.

Adults will also enjoy our Entrepreneurs series, which is continuing to draw in interesting speakers and an engaged

Martin Rudden General Manager

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NEWS

CLUB CLOSURE ANNUAL STAFF DINNER & DANCE Please note that The Club will close at 3:00 p.m. on Monday, August 7 for its Annual Staff Dinner & Dance. Last orders and activities will take place at 2:00 p.m. The Club will resume operations as usual on the following day. Thank you for allowing our team to enjoy this special evening in acknowledgement of their hard work and efforts in making this Club the best it can be for you. Your support means the world to us and we really appreciate it!

1 COMPLIMENTARY ACCESS TO INTERNATIONAL DIGITAL NEWSPAPERS We are pleased to share that Members can now enjoy complimentary access to the Financial Times, The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal's digital news websites. Simply connect to the Club wifi on your smart device and proceed to the papers' respective websites. Alternatively, you may access the sites via our Business Center desktops at Level 3. This service is available for a limited period. 2 AN EGG-CELLENT GUESS Thank you to all our little Members who participated in our Easter Egg contest! Charlie Davies’ guess of 276 was almost spot on, and he got to bring home the coveted prize – a pretty jar containing 278 actual chocolate eggs. 3 MAY DAY PLAQUE OF COMMENDATION The Club was honored to be conferred the ‘Plaque of Commendation’ at the 2017 NTUC May Day Awards Ceremony on May 13. Only 12 other companies in Singapore (with one other within the hospitality sector) were in receipt of this award, which honors organizations that have demonstrateda continuous track record in supporting the Labor Movement to promote and implement progressive workplace practices for staff. Our sincere thanks to the Attractions, Resorts and Entertainment Union (our union partner) for the nomination!

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4 DISTINGUISHED VISITING CHEF Members were treated to a delightful champagne pairing lunch by our first female Distinguished Visiting Chef, Angela May of Angela May Food Chapters on May 13. The acclaimed culinary host and TV Presenter curated a sensory, contemporary menu centering on sustainable and organic products. A feast for the eyes and tummy!

5 MOTHER’S DAY AT THE CLUB The Club was abuzz on Mother’s Day with its first- ever Open House and Mother’s Day celebration on May 14. An impressive strawberry sculpture took center stage, while two fantastic brunches, free flow bubbly and a host of complimentary activities kept Members and guests engaged on this special day. Our thanks to Stamford American International School for their support of this event. Congrats to Mrs Lisa Kong and her daughter for winning our mother-and-child lookalike contest! The mirror- image pair have won a Laura Mercier gift set, Club vouchers and an exclusive tea hamper.

6 AN EVENING WITH FRANK LAVIN Former White House aide and US Ambassador to Singapore Frank Lavin gave Members a peek into his new book, Home Front to Battlefront: An Ohio Teenager in World War II at a special book launch and wine dinner on May 15. The poignant book recounts the tribulations and horrors Frank’s father had to grapple with as a young military enlistee in the thick of World War II.

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7 ‘PITCH PERFECT’ The Club was thrilled to partner with The University of Pennsylvania to bring Members an exclusive performance by the Penn Glee Club on May 20! Well into its 155th season, the acclaimed male a cappella group treated all present to a wonderful evening of song and humor as part of a stopover on their Asia tour.

8 SLAB PARTY Thank you to all who attended our Redevelopment Slab Party on May 21! It was a small way of celebrating the next significant milestone in our Redevelopment project – the laying of the foundation (slab) of our new Scotts building. Members took the opportunity to enjoy bubbly and a creative cake taking the form of our construction site. You can see the actual structure of the new building rising out of the ground in the right image.

9 NICHE GROUP LUCKY DRAW Congrats to our Niche Group Lucky Draw winners for April and May! April: Catherine Kuehn Bali National Golf Resort - 2N stay in a 2-bedroom Villa inclusive of breakfast for 2 + Complimentary golf for 4 worth $5,000 May: Simon Grose-Hodge Soori Bali - 3D2N stay in a Mountain/Beach Pool Villa inclusive of breakfast for 2 worth $3,000 Niche group Members are invited to continue dropping their spending chits in the draw box at Concierge for a chance to win more fantastic prizes this year.

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Send Us Your Stories!

We want your stories!

If you are a Member of The Club and have a unique or interesting story relating to lifestyle, family, or your experience at The Club / life in Singapore, we want you to share it with our readers via The Club magazine! Email your write-up (1,000 words or less) and high-resolution pictures (or download link) to jacklyno@amclub.org.sg / constancey@amclub.org.sg titled “Magazine submission”.

*Articles will be subject to review and approval by The Club, and may or may not be published in The Club magazine.

The American Club Call Center Did you know that The Club receives an average of 160 phone calls a day?

In response to the large volume of incoming calls, which has resulted in Member feedback about the difficulty of getting through to busy outlets such as sên Spa and Thyme Café (especially during peak periods), The Club officially launched its dedicated Call Center in July 2016. A year into its operations, the Call Center has significantly reduced the number of calls to the Concierge. With the Call Center team handling multiple activities, from event registrations and outlet bookings to processing vehicle registrations and attending to Member and guest enquiries, the Front Desk staff is now better able to focus their attention on providing face-to-face services and engaging with our Members.

To date, the Call Center has processed close to 27,000 phone calls. We hope this value-added service has helped enhance our Members’ experience at The Club!

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3 Our Aquatics team recently attended a clinic with South African former Olympic Gold medalist and world champion, Roland Schoeman. Hosted by the Singapore Swim Association, the clinic focused on training techniques for competitive swimming.

2 Our Senior Director of Facilities & Security, Tang Teck Wah, was re-elected as Chair of the Claymore Cluster Safety & Security Watch Group this year. In this capacity, he facilitates quarterly meetings with over 30 Facility Managers and security personnel from commercial buildings within walking distance of The Club. These meetings, during which security ideas, developments, and joint evacuations are shared and planned, ensures our Club is kept well-apprised of security and safety updates and procedures. Staff News

5 Since May 12, 2017, organizations globally have suffered from data compromises as a result of the WannaCry ransomware attack. As part of our Club’s software and data security measures, our IT team has upgraded our backup software from a 16- to a 40-cycle system (that will allow for the recalling of files up to 1.5 months back), as well as undertaken a further backup of all PCs. All staff are also reminded to adhere to cyber security measures and policies. have recently participated in a 3-day Occupational First-Aid, CPR & AED Training course. This highlights our commitment across all levels/ designations of staff to our core value, Safety. Over 100 of our staff are now first-aid/ CPR-qualified. 4 16 of our full-time and 6 part-time staff

1 For the safety of all Members, we’ve recently installed a customized hand rail and added floor signages at the stairs leading to and from the restrooms at The 2 nd Floor. What’s New

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RANT & RAVE We receive hundreds of valuable feedback from our Members each month. Positive or constructive, your comments are important in helping us assess our services and offerings, and enable us to identify ways to better meet your needs.

Read on for a selection of our most recent Member feedback.

MAY 28 I have recently hosted 2 events using the Club’s catering service. One event was an end-of-year tennis party for the American Women's Organisation and the other was a private party we hosted at our home. I would like to inform you that I was very pleased with the results of both. The staff was friendly and helpful as usual, and the food was fantastic as well. Of course, I also need to add that it was a breeze planning both events due to the wonderful job Yvonne does. She really does make party planning so pleasant. Thank you again for having such a wonderful staff, I will keep using The American Club for my events! I would appreciate it if you could please pass on my thanks to all involved.

MAY 20 I took the boys swimming this morning but I didn't wear my suit. Adventurous Charlie swam by himself to the middle of the pool where he couldn't touch the bottom. He looked like he was starting to tire. I thought I was going to have to go in after him. All of a sudden, he flipped himself onto his back, floated to rest and then swam on his back to the side. Amazing! Please thank the Aquatics team for their hard work!

Thank you for your kind words!

Thanks for the fantastic support!

We are very happy to hear that both events were successful and hopefully we can do them for you again in the future. And yes, Yvonne is amazing. She works hard, as do all the team. Thank you for taking the time to acknowledge her and all the staff.

Children from as young as 6-months-old can enrol in our Infant program, where drowning prevention skills such as floating to safety will be taught. For more information, please contact Elspeth at 6739-4450 or elspethl@ amclub.org.sg.

Thank you for your feedback. You certainly will be able to enjoy the NBA finals at the Union Bar – this information has been updated on our website as well as on the LCD screen outside the bar. We have noted your concerns, and rest assured that we will continue to do our best to bring in as many American sports and events to The Club where feasible. For example, the NHL live relay was screened at the Union Bar on Friday, June 26, while our International Wednesday Buffets in July will center on American comfort foods. While we work hard to preserve and communicate a distinct American culture at The Club through our food, activities and offerings, many of the new initiatives we bring, such as the cricket screenings, are also made possible based on the number of Member feedback and requests we receive over the years.

JUNE 1 We don't understand why the F&B team is promotingacricket tournament which has no relevance to the American community, but has no plans to show the NBA finals, which is a quintessential American annual sporting event. It seems more and more that not only American events, but also food are being shoved into the background, while events that have zero American connection are being celebrated. The idea of an American Club is to celebrate American culture and life. I think you would have to agree that The Club has gradually pulled away from that concept the last couple of years. It is a concern to many of us.

We hope to see you and family/friends at The Club soon to enjoy the games and the lineup of activities we have in store.

We want to hear from you! Email your feedback to info@amclub.org.sg. Your comments may be published in subsequent issues of our magazine.

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THE AMERICAN CLUB REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT UPDATE

Thank you to the 608 Members who took part in our recent Level 3 Member Satisfaction Survey; we appreciate your feedback!

As you may know, in May 2016 we administered a benchmark survey prior to the redevelopment to establish baseline Member satisfaction levels with all the outlets and services in The Club. The recent survey, administered 8 months after the opening of Level 3, was an exact replica of the survey questions we administered in May 2016, so that we could get an accurate before and after snapshot of Member satisfaction. The survey consisted of three questions to measure service, ambience, and range of services and it only meas- ured satisfaction in three outlets: the Business Center, Adult Library, and Kid’s Library. We also gave Members the opportunity to write in anonymous comments that they wanted to share about the facilities. We were happy to have 265 Members write in with their feedback, and we will respond to many of these in the coming weeks and months via the redevelopment eblast, information board, and other collateral. Because the survey was anonymous, we are not able to reply directly to Members. As you’ll see, Member satisfaction increased in 8 out of 9 areas measured. The service level in the Adult Library is the only area where Member satisfaction decreased—from 6.11 in 2016 to 6.04 in 2017; however, it should be noted that the Adult Library received the second highest score in the entire 2016 survey. If you missed the survey, but have feedback for us about Level 3, please email us at redevelopment@amclub. org.sg and we’ll get back to you with a reply. SCORES See the scores from the 2016 and 2017 surveys:

Jun-16

Jun-17

Service

Business Center

5.64 6.11 5.58 5.08 5.31 5.14 5.46 5.67 5.32

5.99 6.04 5.84 5.87 6.08 5.86

Adult Library Kid's Library

Ambience

Business Center

Adult Library Kid's Library

Range of Services

Business Center

5.90 6.05

Adult Library Kid's Library

5.82 493 respondents 608 respondents

Scale: 1= Completely Unsatisfied 4= Neutral 7= Completely Satisfied

This information is accurate at time of printing, but is subject to change.

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UNION BAR UPDATE

Changes to Linkway and Union Bar Access

We heard you. We received feedback from Members that the temporary changes to the Union Bar that created a thoroughfare from the carpark area to the Claymore building were not ideal. So, we have come up with a new solution that alleviates many of the issues raised. In mid-June we created a small corridor along a short stretch of the linkway to provide access between the carpark / Thyme Café and the Claymore building. A key advantage of this new plan, is that Members, guests, and children no longer have to walk through the Union Bar to get to other parts of The Club. This small corridor was created by repositioning a part of the Union Bar’s front wall. A brick patterned wall covering has been added to the new interior UB wall and pennants have been rehung to maintain the look and feel of the space until it is moved to its new location in 2018.

The corridor is 1.2 meters wide, allowing for strollers, wheelchairs, and walkers to move through the space. See our FAQs below and on our microsite, http://redevelopment.amclub.org.sg for the answers to some of your questions.

FAQ Updated

4. Has the look and feel of the Union Bar remained the same now that this corridor has been created? The Club’s goal was to retain the look and feel of the bar as much as possible during this short interim period. A brick patterned wall covering has been installed on the internal UB wall and pennants have been rehung so that the space looks as close to the existing wall as possible. 5. What time will the Union Bar doors be open in the morning now that the new corridor has been created? The Union Bar will maintain its existing hours and open at 8:00 a.m. daily. 6. Can I still sit in the Union Bar if I ordered from Thyme but there is no available seating in Thyme? Yes, we’d love to welcome you to the Union Bar. Our team knows you might sit in the bar with your Thyme purchase and that’s okay with us. 7. How long will this corridor be in place? This new corridor will be in place until early 2018, when the new building opens.

1. Why did The Club change the plans for the Union Bar walk through? The Club became aware that some Members were unhappy about having the UB be a thoroughfare for Members, guests, and children walking between areas of The Club. With this new plan, The Club is able to minimize disruption to Members in the bar, while creating a safe and viable alternative for everyone else navigating The Club. 2. How was the small corridor created? The external wall of the UB (the shared wall with the linkway) has been repositioned to create a 1.2m-wide, approximately 5m-long corridor along the linkway. The main door of the UB has also been repositioned and The Club has installed a new door, so that we can preserve our existing door for the new UB location. 3. Is the big screen still at the Union Bar? Yes! We have kept all our screens in the bar--so you can still watch your favorite games--we’ve just moved two of them. The big screen has moved to an area near the main entrance, and one of the large flat screen TVs has moved behind the bar for convenient viewing.

This information is accurate at time of printing, but is subject to change.

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CALLING ALL UNION BAR ENTHUSIASTS! While you are home this summer, please bring back a pennant from your alma mater for the new Union Bar. We will be collecting your college pennants at the Concierge Desk over the summer and upon your return. Due to the delicate nature of some of the pennants on the walls, even if your college is currently represented, please bring a replacement. We want to ensure we accommodate as many as possible!

Pennants can measure up to 30" long x 12" wide; unfortunately larger pennants cannot be accommodated.

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MEMBERSHIP REWARDS PROGRAM

WHO SAYS YOU CAN’T HAVE YOUR CAKE AND EAT IT TOO?

NOW EXTENDED TO OTHER CATEGORIES

Recommend your friends to join The American Club and you will each be rewarded with F&B dining vouchers!

Referred Membership Type Ordinary Membership Service Membership

Rewards $500 F&B Dining Vouchers each $250 F&B Dining Vouchers each $150 F&B Dining Vouchers each $150 F&B Dining Vouchers each $75 F&B Dining Vouchers each

Term Membership Pathway Ordinary Pathway Service

Three easy steps to claim your rewards: 1. Fill up this proposal form and hand it in to the Membership Office or the Concierge Desk. To qualify, proposal form must be received before your friend participates in any of The Club’s membership marketing initiatives that may be running throughout the year, and also before the new Membership Application Form is submitted. 2. The Membership Department will contact your referred friend to discuss Membership options. 3. Upon election of new Members following General Committee approval and full orientation, you and your referred friend will each receive F&B dining vouchers based on your friend’s Membership category type.

Notes: Ÿ Each proposal form is valid for 6 months from the date of receipt. Ÿ Vouchers will only be awarded if the above steps are followed. Ÿ Terms and conditions are subject to change. Ÿ Vouchers are not exchangeable for cash.

For more information, please call Elle at 6739-4335 or visit www.amclub.org.sg.

WIN/WIN REWARDS PROGRAM MEMBERSHIP PROPOSAL FORM

Name of Member: ____________________________________________ Membership Number: _______________________________ I wish to propose the following individual/family for Membership at The American Club. Name: _______________________________________________________ Citizenship: _________________________________________ Please print name and underline surname

Name of Company: ____________________________________ Address: __________________________________________________

Email: __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________

Day-time Contact Number: _____________________________

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

Date joined: ________________________________________________ New Membership Number: ___________________________

14 THE AMERICAN CLUB JUL / AUG 2017 Date credited: ______________________________________________ Initial: _______________________________________________

LEVEL 3

Be sure to visit us at Level 3 if you haven’t already done so to check out this multi-functional space, which is ideal for those looking to work quietly, read a book, have a conversation, conduct a meeting, hold an event or do some research. Our available services include:

BUSINESS CENTER 4 Individual seating spaces and

workstations for your quiet reading or work 4 Facsimile, color printing, photocopying and book binding services MEETING ROOMS 4 Boardroom with projector and screen 4 Meeting rooms for hosting meetings and more

LIBRARY 4 Adults’ Library and Children’s Library 4 Over 22,000 books 4 Storytime, Author events, Book Club 4 Overdrive – Access e-books PRIVATE FUNCTION SPACES FOR YOUR SPECIAL EVENTS

4 Coffee mornings 4 Cocktail evenings 4 AGM 4 Product launches

For more information on the Business Center, meeting rooms or your private function needs, please call 6739-4478 or email meetings@amclub.org.sg. For more information on the Library, please call 6739-4308 or email library@amclub.org.sg. 

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Say

Early Bird Special 20% off design services from now till Oct 31 Last order for Christmas and New Year Cards will be on December 12. A turn-around time of 3 to 5 working days is needed. Happy New Year, Happy Birthday or even I Love You with a personal touch To place an order contact our design team at 6739-4489 / 12

Get the word out

MAGAZINE ADVERTISEMENTS

FLYER INSERTION IN MAGAZINE

FLYER INSERTION IN BILL STATEMENT

WEBSITE ADVERTISEMENTS

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LIBRARY

Summ e r Reading Race The race is on! Take part in our Summer Reading race-delve into the fantasy world of fairy tales or re-read a favorite classic. Collect your race cards from the Library and embark on your summer literary journey! All participants who complete the reading race will stand a chance to win exciting prizes.

June 24 – August 6 Age groups: 3- to 5-year olds / 6- to 8-year olds / 11- to 13-year olds All reading cards must be returned to the Library by Sunday, August 6.

For more information, please drop by the Library, call 6739-4308 or email library@amclub.org.sg.

Book Club Calling all book lovers – join our monthly Book Club meetings and meet fellow avid readers! Members are invited to read the book of the month in their own time then join us for a discussion at the meeting. A facilitator will encourage participation from the group with talking points. All adult Members welcome.

Thursday, August 31 Adult’s Library, Level 3 7:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Complimentary Light refreshments will be served A GENTLEMAN IN MOSCOW : A NOVEL BY AMOR TOWLES

In 1922, Count Alexander Rostov is deemed an unrepentant aristocrat by a Bolshevik tribunal, and is sentenced to house arrest in the Metropol, a grand hotel across the street from the Kremlin. Brimming with humor, a glittering cast of characters, and one beautifully rendered scene after another, this novel casts a spell as it relates the count’s endeavor to gain a deeper understanding of what it means to be a man of purpose. This book is available at the Club Library, Kinokuniya, the National Library, and Amazon. For more information or to register, please call 6739-4308 or email library@amclub.org.sg. DIY…AND BE REWARDED FOR IT! Did you know that Members who use the Library self-checkout kiosk complete their borrow and return transactions in a quarter of the time it takes those who do so via our counter staff?

Avoid the line at our Library counter by using our self-checkout kiosk. Our Librarians are on hand to guide you on using the kiosk at all times.

From July 3 to October 15, present your self-checkout chit to the Level 3 reception team and enjoy a pack of chips on us! All Members who complete self-checkouts will also be eligible for month-end lucky draws from Jul – Oct to win attractive Tea Forte gift sets.

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ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The AGM provides Eligible Members with an opportunity to vote six Members on to the General Committee for a two-year tenure, approve and/or ask questions about the Audited Accounts for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2017, as well as appoint The Club’s Auditors for the next twelve months. Voting and discussions will also take place on any other business that is properly presented as prescribed by the Constitution.

All Members (voting and non-voting) are encouraged to attend.

Wednesday, November 8 The American Club Registration begins at 7:00 p.m. Meeting commences at 7:30 p.m. sharp Light refreshments will be provided.

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Our Niche Group Lucky Draw is back by popular demand!

Stand to win a slew of fantastic prizes this year – simply drop your spending chits into the lucky draw box at Concierge and you could be our lucky winner each month. Drop as many chits as you can to increase your chances of winning!

All Elite, 15K, 10K and VIP Members are invited to participate.

JULY 2017 COUNTRY HOLIDAYS 2N Villa stay at Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai, Hoi An, Vietnam inclusive of breakfast for 2 + Complimentary shuttle service Worth $2,400 QUALIFYING PERIOD: JUL 1-31, 2017 Winner will be notified by August 1, 2017 UPCOMING PRIZES IN 2017… CLUB MED BALI, INDONESIA 4D3N resort stay for 2 worth $1,600 CLUB MED SAHORO HOKKAIDO, JAPAN 5D4N Resort stay for 2 worth $2,400 CLUB MED PEISEY VALLANDRY, FRANCE 8D7N Resort stay for 2 worth $5,000 RESORTS WORLD SENTOSA 1N stay in a Deluxe Room at Hard Rock Hotel + 2 Adult tickets to Universal Studios Singapore KERSTIN FLORIAN $1000 cash + SpaRitual hamper worth $800 Winners will be published on The Club magazine and Facebook page Limited to one prize per membership

Pathway Membership One year Membership is available for North Americans for a limited time! Visit www.amclub.org.sg/membership or call 6739-4386 or email membership@amclub.org.sg for information and to book a Club tour.

Terms & Conditions apply. The Management reserves the right to change any of the Terms and Conditions without prior notice.

ART SCENE

Emotion in Motion by P. Gnana

Inspired by the zest and rhythm of human emotions, P. Gnana’s intricate works are an intimate interpretation of his surroundings and explorations in the subject of relationships. EXHIBITION AT THE CLUB JUNE 30 – AUGUST 31 ART LAUNCH FRIDAY, JULY 7 THE COMMONS, LEVEL 3 6:30 P.M. – 7:30 P.M. Complimentary glass of wine and cheese Special guest High Commissioner of India Mr. Jawed Ashraf will grace Art Launch!

To register or for more information, please drop by the Concierge, call 6737-3411 or email concierge@amclub.org.sg.

Drop by Business Center on Level 3 and check out the gallery’s beautiful sculpture works. The Gallery of Gnani Arts

Website: http://www.gnaniarts.com Email: gnani_arts@yahoo.com.sg Tel: 6735-3550

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What is SuperCamp?

2 FREE TICKETS TO BE WON (WORTH 2,750 USD EACH)

Junior Forum Senior Forum

To take part in the draw, please email your name and Membership number to info@amclub.org.sg. Draw will close on Monday, August 14. Winner will be contacted via email on Tuesday, August 15. By entering this draw, participants consent to SuperCamp Bali’s collection and use of personal particulars to receive information on marketing activities and/or promotions. The prize ticket does not include transportation to the program.

December 17 to 23, 2017

TRAVEL

NEW ZEALAND A LUXURY PLAYGROUND

New Zealand, one of the world’s greatest playgrounds, is home to landscapes, lakes and oceans perfect for a family getaway. From relaxed stays at luxury lodges to an action-packed adventure with wildlife encounters, the country offers an array of activities for the family.

LUXURY FAMILY RETREATS Book a stay at Treetops Lodge & Estate, a 2,500-acre natural theme park in Rotorua. Enjoy horse trekking, waterfall hiking, trout fishing and other exciting outdoor activities. Let your little ones have a taste of farm life at The Farm at Cape Kidnappers in Hawke’s Bay, or sign them up for an enriching Kiwi Discovery Walk to learn about New Zealand’s elusive national bird, while parents tee off at the golf course or enjoy a relaxing spa treatment. ADVENTURE Looking for some adventure? Begin your day with the wind rushing through your hair as you fly through the canopies on a zipline, before rolling down a hill in a giant plastic orb. Abseil up a limestone cliff or descend into a roaring canyon, or, even hike across an active marine volcano.

MÃORI CULTURE Seize the opportunity to immerse in the ancient and unique Mãori culture, which has molded and shaped New Zealand familiar to many today. These indigenous people are skilled artisans, accomplished hunters, fishermen, gardeners and warriors. Partake in interactive performances, traditional meals and visit museum exhibits, or for those who prefer a more in-depth experience, venture up to Northland for the largest remaining tract of native forest and take a ride in a Mãori war canoe. WILDLIFE Imagine sighting wild orcas along the coast of Auckland, or watching spectacular whales at Kaikoura. Swim with tiny Hector’s dolphins at the edge of Akaroa Habor or watch adorable penguins return home each night at Oamaru or Otago Peninsulars. An unforgettable wildlife experience awaits you in New Zealand.

For more information, drop by the Travel Desk, visit www.countryholidays.com.sg, call 6735-1033 or email traveldesk@amclub.org.sg.

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FOUR SEASONS RESORT THE NAM HAI, HOI AN, VIETNAM Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai, Hoi An, Vietnam, rests on a tranquil stretch of Ha My Beach, just 11 kilometers north of the UNESCO city of Hoi An on Vietnam’s central coast. The Resort was once a fishing village with a historical temple preserved on site. The authentic connection to the region is showcased through inspiring on-site activities. Fromcooking academies featuring delightful local dishes, earth-attuned spas, to interesting cultural excursions, the Resort provides an all-in-one experience to enrich your soul. Country Holidays Travel is part of the Four Seasons Preferred Partner program - an exclusive, invitation-only network comprising leading travel agencies from around the world, allowing them to deliver a seamless travel experience with the intuitive service and personal expertise necessary to exceed guests' expectations. Enjoy exclusive value-added benefits when you book any Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts with Country Holidays. For more information, visit www.countryholidays.com.sg or contact us at traveldesk@ amclub.org.sg or 6735-1033.

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MEMBER FEATURE

TURNING THE TIDE in the land of the Thunder Dragon By Christine Amour-Levar

As eleven of us advance resolutely into the flowing, glacial river, a rush of excitement grips us. Admittedly, we are all a little nervous; feeling apprehensive because the currents below are strong. After months of training in the warm tropical coastal waters of Singapore and Dubai, my ‘Women on a Mission’ teammates and I can hardly believe we are finally here, in Bhutan, to begin the challenge we set ourselves about a year ago. The pristine, gushing rivers of this hidden Himalayan kingdom are a brand-new environment for us to paddle in, and the moment is made even more exceptional because ultimately, we know we are here to support a very worthy cause, but also because the adventure itself is pioneering. Indeed, we are the first - the first team to ever Stand Up Paddle Board (SUP) in the Kingdom of Bhutan and attempt the descent of two of its rivers. Our WOAM team’s added objective is to raise awareness and funds for RENEW, a charity founded by the Queen Mother of Bhutan, which is dedicated to the empowerment of women and children with specific attention to survivors of domestic violence. The charity offers survivors shelter and care to help them heal from their physical and emotional wounds, while also providing life skills training to allow them to eventually become financially independent. A few days earlier, we landed in Bhutan after a hair-raising, albeit breath- taking, final approach. Paro International Airport is known as one of the most challenging airports in the world. Its tiny airstrip is 2,200m (1.5 miles) above sea level and surrounded by sharp mountain peaks. Pilots have to manoeuvre dozens of houses scattered across the ridges, often while battling strong winds that whip through the valley, resulting in severe turbulence.

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From the moment we disembark the aircraft and breathe in the fresh mountain air, my teammates and I are captivated. We take in the spectacular views of the emerald-tinted mountain peaks as we head to meet our local guide, Karma. As we drive out of the airport, he tells us about his country: “Bhutan is situated on the ancient Silk Road between Tibet, India and South East Asia. Today it is in the midst of reconciling century-old cultures with rising modernity; in fact, it was isolated from the outside world for centuries and only began to open up to foreigners in the 1970s.” During the first couple of days of our journey, our group travels from Paro to the capital, Thimphu, and after a visit to Buddha Dordenma – a gigantic Shakyamuni Buddha statue – and a blessing at Thimphu Dzong, we swap the expedition bus for bikes to descend from the high Dochula Pass at 3,200m to the Punakha valley where we base ourselves over the next few days for the SUP challenge. Over a period of four days, we paddle down the confluence of the Mo Chhu and Pho Chhu rivers against the backdrop of the stunning Punakha Dzong. The locals have never seen anyone on SUPs before, in fact, the equipment has been shipped into Bhutan especially for our expedition, and so we attract quite a lot of attention along the riverbanks. The currents and rapids are much more unpredictable than we expected and very different from what we have experienced at sea. Fortunately, Anthony, our expert SUP guide, gives us a crash course on how rivers flow. “Most people assume a river follows the curves of its banks, but in reality, a river flows in a straight line” he tells us, drawing a sketch on the sand. “This means that when a paddler approaches a turn in the river, he or she has to be very careful not to drift to the side and crash into the rocky riverbanks. The key is to try to remain in the central part of the river, which is usually the deepest and safest place to be.” Easier said than done. We learn the hard way, and our first day is spent falling off the boards so many times in the churning rapids that we lose count. We are reminded time and time again that lowering our center of gravity makes us more stable and reduces our chance of falling off. Ultimately, we come to understand that a flowing river’s calm surface can be deceiving, and that currents should never be underestimated. Getting back on the board once we fall into the flowing river and avoiding oncoming rocks are the most challenging tasks. Many of us get very badly bruised and cut through our wetsuits – but we keep going without

losing momentum. Adrenaline is pumping and despite feeling exhausted, soaked and miserably cold at times, we are proud to tackle this unique challenge. On the last day, we start early in the morning. It’s a beautiful sunny day, the sky is blue, the birds are chirping and the water is crystal clear. We are getting more confident on the SUPs and the team is moving well together, navigating the rapids with ease. When it’s time to get out of the water, we are sad that our journey on the rivers has come to an end, but the women and children of RENEW have prepared a special show for our visit and we can’t be late. The children in particular have been waiting excitedly all day. To our disbelief, we learn that they are not the children of the women survivors of domestic violence living at the shelter, but survivors themselves, and it breaks our hearts. Some of them are as young as four or five years old. The children dance beautifully as they have been practicing all week and you can see on their little faces that they are eager to do well. We meet the women survivors too. There is a deep sadness etched on their faces but when we ask them about the weaving they have learnt at RENEW, their eyes light up, and they show us their beautiful work with great pride. We are told our donation will go towards building more shelters for the survivors; it’s a small gesture, yet after speaking with the dedicated management team at RENEW we feel confident our efforts will have a lasting impact. Our trek culminates with a hike up to the iconic Tiger’s Nest to visit the Taktsang Monastery, perched on the very edge of the mountainside. This is a pilgrimage site for Buddhists from all over the world and Guru Rimpoche, who introduced Buddhism to Bhutan, is said to have reached this place on the back of a flying tigress. The climb and the views from the peak at 3,200m are simply awe-inspiring. For our team, it has been a journey into a different and unique reality. From the multi-colored prayer flags fluttering high above the suspension bridges as we paddled below on the sparkling rivers, to the silk scarves we received as gifts from the women and children at RENEW; the beauty of the Kingdom of Bhutan and the kindness of its people will remain engraved in our memories for a lifetime. No wonder many believe Bhutan to be the last real-life, Shangri-La; most of all because of its unwavering pursuit of one of life’s most elusive concepts – national happiness. Photo credit: Women On A Mission | www.womenmission.com

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